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Articles by Bruce MacKellar
Purdue agricultural economics research to measure local food access in Anderson community
Bruce MacKellar | Farmers Advance WEST LAFAYETTE, IN. — Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics is measuring access to local food in Anderson, Indiana through a collaboration with the Madison County Local Food Network (MCLFN). Purdue Agricultural Economics intends to assess how locally grown food sources in Madison County can meet the needs of low-income consumers.
Producers concerned about rising costs and supply chain disruptions
Bruce MacKellar | Farmers Advance WEST LAFAYETTE, IN. AND CHICAGO, IL. — Farmer sentiment weakened in January as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined 6 points to a reading of 119, its second-lowest reading since July 2020. The Index of Current Conditions fell 13 points to a reading of 133, while the Index of Future Expectations changed little in January, down 2 points to a reading of 112.
Michiana irrigated corn and soybean conference slated for February 16
Bruce MacKellar | Farmers Advance EAST LANSING, MI. — Purdue University Extension and Michigan State University Extension are pleased to announce that the 2022 Michiana Irrigated Corn and Soybean Conference will be February 16 at the Blue Gate Theatre in downtown Shipshewana, Indiana.
Michiana Irrigated Corn, Soybean Conference, Shipshewana, IN, Feb. 16
©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Purdue University Extension and Michigan State University Extension are pleased to announce that the 2022 Michiana Irrigated Corn and Soybean Conference will be Feb. 16 at the Blue Gate Theatre in downtown Shipshewana, Indiana.
Fall harvest conditions left a mixed bag of challenges in southwest Michigan fields
Bruce MacKellar Published 9:00 a.m. ET March 31, 2021 EAST LANSING, MI. – Late harvest during wet conditions left ruts in some fields in 2020. Waiting for dry conditions to fix them may be beneficial, but don’t overlook the value of wheat and deep rooted cover crops to help remediate compaction. While the late summer and early fall of 2020 was certainly dry, when rainfall returned fields became extremely wet during late harvest. This allowed for the creation of deep ruts in some fields.
Southwest Michigan: Fall Harvest Conditions Left a Mixed Bag of Challenges
Severe harvest ruts. Photo: Mike Staton, MSU Extension While the late summer and early fall of 2020 was certainly dry, when rainfall returned fields became extremely wet during late harvest. This allowed for the creation of deep ruts in some fields. Heavy rainfall also led to some erosion on fields that were tilled during dry conditions early last fall that will need to be addressed before planting this spring.
Michigan: Benefits of Bin Aeration for Grains
Grain bins with corn field in the background. ©Debra L Ferguson Using bin aeration to dry corn and soybeans with natural air is a common practice in many areas of the country. However, the process does require more management than using fans to adjust grain temperature. The Purdue Extension publication AED-20, “Managing Dry Grain in Storage,” reports that drying front movement is around 50 times slower than the temperature front movement in a normal grain mass.
Using Bin Aeration to Dry Corn and Soybeans with Natural Air
By Bruce MacKellar, Michigan State University Extension Using bin aeration to dry corn and soybeans with natural air is a common practice in many areas of the country. However, the process does require more management than using fans to adjust grain temperature. The Purdue Extension publication AED-20, “Managing Dry Grain in Storage,” reports that drying front movement is around 50 times slower than the temperature front movement in a normal grain mass.
Farmland Rent Considerations - Part 3: Farmland Rental Agreements and Arrangements
By Jonathan LaPorte, Bruce MacKellar, and Dennis Pennington Over the years, producers have rented farmland to each other, also known as “swapping ground”, for a wide variety of reasons using a wide range of different types of arrangements. The type of agreement usually has a lot to do with how involved a landowner wants to be in the crop production activities on their land. Some landowners don’t want any production or market risk or to be involved in making production decisions.
Farmland Rent Considerations - Part 2: Tips for negotiations farmland rent
By Jonathan LaPorte, Bruce MacKellar Negotiating farmland rental rates can be challenging. Generally, landowners and tenants want to be fair with each other and don’t want to be taken advantage of. Landowners need to cover the costs associated with owning land, such as a mortgage payment, insurance and taxes. Farmer-tenants need land in order to grow a crop and generate income. Most landowners and farmers alike want an easy way to determine fair rent prices.
Is leaving corn in the field to dry until late spring an option?
Bruce MacKellar, MSU Extension STALK STRENGTH: Pictured is corn affected by tar spot that lodged after high winds. Stalk strength should be determined before deciding to leave corn in the field to dry through the winter. Weigh your anticipated risk for yield loss and make decisions based on corn moisture and drying cost. Dec 12, 2019 By Bruce MacKellar and Roger Betz What is the potential for corn to dry in the field over the winter months?
Will leaving corn in the field to dry until late spring be a viable option?
By Bruce MacKellar and Roger Betz What is the potential for corn to dry in the field over the winter months? In all honesty, not particularly good on a per day basis during the December through February timeframe. However, there are a lot of days during this period, and even small amounts of drying per day can lead to much lower moisture levels by early spring. With corn moisture levels remaining above 30% in many June planted corn fields, the cost of drying corn this fall is going to be very high.
Michigan Corn: Can You Leave Crops in the Field Til Spring to Dry?
Corn between one-fourth and one-half milk line. Photo: Bruce MacKellar, Michigan State University What is the potential for corn to dry in the field over the winter months? In all honesty, not particularly good on a per day basis during the December through February timeframe. However, there are a lot of days during this period, and even small amounts of drying per day can lead to much lower moisture levels by early spring.
Southwest Michigan: Corn Struggling to Mature
The 2019 growing season has been a struggle for southwest Michigan corn producers. While the region has less prevented planting acres than most of Michigan, we have 42,900 acres of delayed planted corn as of Aug. 17 in Berrien, Van Buren, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Calhoun and Branch counties. The latter part of the growing season has also not been kind for much of the corn crop in the area. Drought conditions impacted significant areas of southwest Michigan during some portion of July or August.
Corn are struggling to mature in southwest Michigan
By Bruce MacKellar The 2019 growing season has been a struggle for southwest Michigan corn producers. While the region has less prevented planting acres than most of Michigan, we have 42,900 acres of delayed planted corn as of Aug. 17 in Berrien, Van Buren, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Calhoun and Branch counties. The latter part of the growing season has also not been kind for much of the corn crop in the area.
Michigan Corn: Fields Changing Colors? Check for Tar Spot.
Tar spot on corn leaf. Photo: University of Illinois Much of southwest Michigan saw a return to adequate soil moisture with thunderstorm-driven rainfall over the last two weeks, but along with the more favorable moisture conditions, we have also seen a virtual explosion of tar spot symptoms on dryland fields, especially in Van Buren County.
Check fields for tar spot if your later-planted corn is turning every color except green
By Bruce MacKellar Much of southwest Michigan saw a return to adequate soil moisture with thunderstorm-driven rainfall over the last two weeks, but along with the more favorable moisture conditions, we have also seen a virtual explosion of tar spot symptoms on dryland fields, especially in Van Buren County.
Online tool estimates corn growth and projects crop maturity - Farm and Dairy
By Bruce MacKellar PAW PAW, Mich. — Corn planting across the Midwest has been delayed by persistent wet weather during the last two springs. Delays this year have been much more widespread than in 2018, and delayed planting has put the corn crop at risk of not reaching physiological maturity or black layer before the first killing frost. We generally expect that a complete tissue killing frost will occur when temperatures dip below 28 degrees Fahrenheit during a portion of evening.
Michigan, Indiana: Wet Year Irrigation Decisions
Irrigated soybean in Perkins County, Nebraska. Photo: University of Nebraska-Lincoln At some point in time, precipitation falls short of crop needs and the crop starts to deplete the soil moisture reserve signaling the start of irrigation season. A huge variation in crop development exists in Michigan and Indiana in 2019. Near the state line, some irrigated fields will be at tassel by the second week of July while others are less than knee-high and will likely tassel closer to the end of July.
Michigan Corn: Online Tool Estimates Crop Development, Projects Maturity
Corn planting across the Midwest has been delayed by persistent wet weather during the last two springs. Delays this year have been much more widespread than in 2018, and delayed planting has put the corn crop at risk of not reaching physiological maturity or black layer before the first killing frost. We generally expect that a complete tissue killing frost will occur when temperatures dip below 28 degrees Fahrenheit during a portion of evening.
Southwest Michigan Field Crop Update - May 23, 2019
By Bruce MacKellar and Eric Anderson If a single word can describe a planting season, 2019’s word would be wet. Two words: too wet! Growers in southwest Michigan were able to make some progress dancing around thunderstorms on sandier fields this past week, but overall planting progress is still in the low teens for corn and maybe the upper single digits for soybeans.
Michigan Corn: Irrigation and Tar Spot - What Happened Last Year? Will It Happen Again?
Close up view of tar spot on corn leaf. Photo: Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University Tar spot, a new fungal pathogen first seen in Michigan in Allegan County in 2016, spread like a wildfire across west Michigan in 2018. The disease, which is prevalent in production areas in Mexico, comes from higher altitude fields in that country. The fungal pathogen apparently is well adapted to our environment here and likely overwinters on infected corn residue.
Planter tips that can affect seed placement and planting depth
NEED FOR UNIFORMITY: Plants with delayed emergence often produce stalks that are thinner in diameter, shorter and produce smaller ears, especially in high population environments. Checking your planter for some of these basic things can help your machine to plant more uniformly. May 16, 2019 By Bruce MacKellar In corn and soybean production, getting off to a good start is critical. I have long been a fan of Bob Nielsen, Purdue University corn agronomist, for his approach to corn production.
Top Production Tips for Irrigated Corn Production
By Bruce MacKellar and Eric Anderson With low corn prices and increasing costs for inputs, irrigated corn growers need to be looking at trimming costs while keeping yield potential high. The following are a few thoughts that hopefully can promote these goals. Variety selection The basic truth remains that there are substantial differences among hybrids, even those offered by the same company. Hybrids differ in their ability to perform in high population, high competition environments.
Tar Spot and Irrigated Corn: What we Saw in 2018 and Will it Happen Again?
By Bruce MacKellar, Martin Chilvers and Eric Anderson Tar spot, a new fungal pathogen first seen in Michigan in Allegan County in 2016, spread like a wildfire across west Michigan in 2018. The disease, which is prevalent in production areas in Mexico, comes from higher altitude fields in that country. The fungal pathogen apparently is well adapted to our environment here and likely overwinters on infected corn residue.
Southwest Michigan Field Crop Update - April 25, 2019
By Bruce MacKellar and Eric Anderson Weather Light rainfall totals have allowed producers to begin field work in earnest in lighter soils, while heavy ground remains mainly too wet to work. Rainfall in the region ranged from 1.5–3 inches over the past two weeks—see the figure from the National Weather Service. Planters began to roll with the moderation in temperatures over the last couple of days, but again, this has been mostly limited to very light soils.
Stand uniformity: Planter tips that can impact seed placement and planting depth
In corn and soybean production, getting off to a good start is critical. Purdue University corn agronomist Bob Nielsen often talks about yield potential as the season-long cumulative negative effect of “yield influencing factors.” He often notes that corn hybrids never have as high a yield potential as when they are in the bag. Selecting the right hybrid is crucial.
Stand uniformity: Planter tips that can impact seed placement and planting depth
Checking your planter over for some of these basic things can help your machine to plant more uniformly. April 12, 2019 - Author: Bruce MacKellar, Michigan State University Extension Photo by Mike Staton, MSU Extension In corn and soybean production, getting off to a good start is critical. I have long been a fan of Bob Nielsen, Purdue University corn agronomist, for his approach to corn production.
Managing Multiple Resistant Pests in Soybean Fields
By Bruce MacKellar Glyphosate and ALS-resistant marestail is a weed that an increasing number of southern Michigan growers are having to manage. Soybean cyst nematode and sudden death syndrome are also on the rise around the region. We have seen several fields across lower Michigan that now have both problems in the same field.
Southwest Michigan: Slow Green Up with Variable Weather; Watch for Weeds Taking Off
Henbit laying low in a winter fescue pasture. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Dirk Philipp) Weather The late winter, early spring weather in 2019 has been quite variable. In terms of heat accumulation, which tends to spur on winter annual weeds and wheat growth, the growing degree day (GDD) accumulation values have been colder than average by about 14 GDDs base 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Michigan Corn: Tar Spot the Focus of 5 Pest Management Meetings in Feb.
Close up of tar spot on corn leaf. Photo: Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University What looks like spatters from an oil leak, sped through west Michigan corn fields like a bullet train and packed a wallop like a 10-pound hammer to corn yields? In the summer of 2018, the answer was corn tar spot. Never heard of it? If you raise corn, you need to learn about it.
Tar spot is impacting corn yields and causing stalk lodging during harvest
Tar spot is impacting corn yields and causing stalk lodging during harvest We are seeing widespread incidence of corn tar pot in southwest Michigan as fields open up for harvest. November 6, 2018 - Author: Bruce MacKellar Symptoms of corn tar spot on leaves during harvest. All photos taken by Jeff Stuck of Marcellus, Michigan. Tar spot, a fungal leaf disease of corn, was first reported in the U.S. in 2015 and in southwest Michigan’s Allegan County in 2016.
Tar Spot is Impacting Corn Yields and Causing Stalk Lodging During Harvest
We are seeing widespread incidence of corn tar pot in southwest Michigan as fields open up for harvest. Tar spot, a fungal leaf disease of corn, was first reported in the U.S. in 2015 and in southwest Michigan’s Allegan County in 2016. As fields have been opened up by harvest operations this fall, we are beginning to see widespread incidence of the disease in many fields across the region. Symptoms of corn tar spot on leaves during harvest.
Michigan Corn: Tar Spot Is Impacting Yields, Causing Stalk Lodging
Symptoms of corn tar spot on leaves during harvest. Photo: Jeff Stuck of Marcellus, Michigan. Tar spot, a fungal leaf disease of corn, was first reported in the U.S. in 2015 and in southwest Michigan’s Allegan County in 2016. As fields have been opened up by harvest operations this fall, we are beginning to see widespread incidence of the disease in many fields across the region. Tar spot is a fungal pathogen that causes raised black lesions on the leaves and husks of corn plants.
Michigan Corn: Late-Season Warmth Helps with Maturity
The 2018 spring planting season was marked by lengthy delays due to persistent periods of wet weather. While the moisture received in the spring was very beneficial as the weather turned dry across most of Michigan in July, planting delays caused headaches for producers that spent most of the season playing catch up with crops in very different stages of growth. As the calendar switched from May to June, many planned corn fields were still left un-planted.
Michigan Corn: Evaluate Stalk Strength Prior to Harvest
The 2018 growing season has been pretty quiet in many locations across southern Michigan when it comes to thunderstorm activity. While we have not seen too much in the way of severe storms this year, there is always potential for this to change as we move into the harvest season. When warm air lingers over southern Michigan into late September and October, invading cold fronts tend to pack a significant punch in terms of wind and heavy rains.
Evaluate Corn Stalk Strength Prior to Harvest
Knowing stalk strength can help prioritize fields that should be harvested first. The 2018 growing season has been pretty quiet in many locations across southern Michigan when it comes to thunderstorm activity. While we have not seen too much in the way of severe storms this year, there is always potential for this to change as we move into the harvest season.
Soil testing this fall? Split your sample and test for soybean cyst ne
By Bruce MacKellar, Michigan State University Extension OK, it may not be the ideal time to sample for soybean cyst nematodes—the ideal time to get samples from severely affected and non-affected areas of your field is during the growing season. However, we can identify “mystery areas” in field yield maps where production seems to lag behind the field average yield.
Livestock Poisoning Possible from Wilting Black Wild Cherry Leaves
Severe thunderstorms developed across southwest Michigan Friday morning, July 7, 2017, with high winds causing widespread damage to trees, homes and other structures. As growers are out cleaning up storm damage, Michigan State University Extension advises livestock producers to be aware that some of the storm-damaged trees may pose a livestock poisoning risk.
Livestock poisoning possible from wilting black (wild) cherry leaves
Severe thunderstorms that developed across southwest Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, turned violent as tornados ripped through parts of Van Buren, Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties. Areas particularly hard hit were Bangor and Grand Junction in western Van Buren County, and Hamilton in western Allegan County. The high winds caused widespread damage to trees, homes and other structures.
Drought conditions taking a toll on Michigan's crops
It has long been known that Michigan is climatologically the driest state east of the Mississippi River, and despite some impressive rainfall totals along the I-94 corridor and small portions of many counties across Michigan, the 2016 growing season is living up to this reputation. Raindrops have been rare in many fields across Michigan, and the lack of precipitation is beginning to show up as severe drought stress in many areas.
Wheat stripe rust moving up the plant in southwest Michigan fields
Wheat fields continue to look good across southwest Michigan. However, with the return to wet conditions, high humidity and a threat of rainfall in the forecast, wheat diseases continue to pose an important threat to this rapidly developing crop. Many folks applied fungicides to their wheat to protect the plants from head scab this season. That is good because it looks like we will have almost perfect conditions for fusarium head blight during this flowering period.
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